Village Update

Food: Distribution was yesterday. Maize cost was subsidized by the government and was 1000 tsh per bucket as opposed to the usual 5000 (1000tsh equals seventy five cents). It was sad to see that people barely had the money or that all they could afford was 1 bucket for a family of 7 or more. Per usual, distribution was chaotic. I bought 1 bucket and will have it ground and then give it out over the next week.
Healthcare: Very difficult to see. Our elderly neighbor came down with something about 5 days ago. After getting her symptoms translated, I gave her Pepto Bismal, probiotics and Tylenol. With marginal improvement I then gave her rehydration tabs. 2 days ago, I made arrangements to have her transported to the "hospital" in Magugu and the family consented. The transport failed to show, I hired the tractor instead, only to have the family then state there was no one to stay with her in Magugu. I obtained an anti-fungal from the local dispensery clerk who diagnosed based on the symptoms--mind you, there is no real "diagnosis" in the village or really at the hospital for that matter, just verbal descriptions of the problem then they hand out medication and that's that. This morning, she is very weak. The local "nurse" is no where to be found but rumor has it she will come later today. In the meantime, a Land Rover from the sky dropped in, it was SIC (hiv education which began in the village 1 year ago; SIC had heard of the Kisangaji Project and was happy to meet me finally) and the lead is an Aussie. He and his head nurse went with me for a housecall. She prescribed 3 meds and I purchased them at the dispensery for the equivalent of 4usd..a luxury cost most folks can't afford. Hopefully she will improve with the regimen.
Boma: The foundation is nearly complete. Laying cement already. They say within 1 week the walls will be built "up to the roof." They have never seen a house built so fast and appear amazed at what can be done with hard, full-days work. The students have been helping periodically: 200 at a time. They each bring 1 litre or so of water or port sand for the cement mix. I'm also told this is a very substantial house, a unique design, and everyone is very excited to see it other than on the floorplan. The size and design exceeds Project expectations. And all this for less than 3500usd...imagine what 10K could do for a village. My presence at the site every day, all day, keeps things on track and the presence of a camera certainly also motivates. Materials were bought yesterday and we got a very good price on the first purchase: 745usd plus transport at 10pm.

Apart from the construction, bearing witness to the trials of Kisangaji is frustrating, sad, and provokes immense feelings of helplessness to see the village situation. Yet, to be here and helping in any way is an honor. One has to realize the events above happen on a daily basis, all over the world, and this is their culture and way of life. It is a balance between respecting the way things are done and trying to be of assistance.
We are very lucky in America, despite our problems.